Actor Robert De Niro, a two-time Academy Award winner known for his legendary roles in The Godfather Part II and Raging Bull, met Pope Leo XIV during a private audience in the Vatican this week. According to Vatican News, the meeting took place in the Sala del Tronetto of the Apostolic Palace, where the 82-year-old actor and the pontiff shared a brief but warm exchange.
The encounter began with smiles and laughter as Pope Leo greeted the actor with, “Good morning! It’s a pleasure to meet you.” De Niro responded, “For me as well,” according to Vatican News. The meeting concluded with the Holy Father gifting a Rosary to De Niro and each of his five companions, symbolizing the Church’s enduring outreach to artists and creators.
The actor’s Vatican visit came at the close of his 48-hour trip to Rome, where he received the Lupa Capitolina, the city’s highest honor, from Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. Standing on the balcony overlooking the Imperial Forums, De Niro reflected on the city’s cultural and spiritual heritage, saying, “Rome is more than a city; it’s a living work of art.”
According to Vatican News, De Niro expressed gratitude for the recognition, noting that the award carried personal meaning because of his Italian, specifically Molisan, heritage. “To be recognized here, in a place that has given so much to the world of culture, cinema, and beauty, is truly moving,” he said. “My family has roots in Italy, so this recognition holds a very special meaning for me.”
The brief meeting between the American actor and the first U.S.-born pontiff highlighted the ongoing dialogue between the Catholic Church and the world of art and cinema, a realm that Pope Leo, known for his appreciation of film, has long encouraged as a powerful medium for expressing truth, beauty, and the human experience.
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